A tree and some lights may make your space look inviting for a holiday gathering, but nothing lights up your guests like a festive seasonal cocktail. Unfortunately, making individual drinks means you spend more time with a shaker and less with friends and family.

But don't stress. A few of our favorite Bay Area mixologists offered us their recipes for holiday cocktails you can prepare before the party starts.

The list includes updates on classic cocktails as well as a few originals. To further simplify your party prep, the ingredients in each recipe are scaled to make a one-quart batch.

Happy holidays!

Lake Chalet’s Harvest Smash

(Courtesy of Maria Pedron)

Smash cocktails often use bourbon, spices, and seasonal fruit. Lake Chalet mixologist Maria Pedron balances the bite of ginger with smooth demerara syrup, letting the bourbon shine through.

Ingredients

6 1/2 ounces demerara syrup

13 ounces bourbon

13 ounces ginger beer

Cocktail Preparation

Mix the demerara syrup and bourbon, then chill. When ready to serve, add ice and ginger beer; garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.

// Lake Chalet, 1520 Lakeside Drive on Lake Merritt (Oakland), thelakechalet.com